remember me beyonder oblivion

Tokyo – 8:00 AM

The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting golden reflections across Kairo's room. The digital clock on the bedside table read 08:00, and a light breeze made the slightly open window sway.

Kairo ran a hand through his messy hair, trying to shake off the drowsiness. The dream—if he could even call it that—still left him with a lingering unease, but he tried not to dwell on it too much. Today was an important day.

He got up, stretched, and walked over to his desk to check his phone.

[Aenna]: "Don't make me wait too long, okay? Meeting point at 8:30 in front of the station!"

[Riven]: "I bet you'll be late. Don't disappoint me."

[Lyra]: "If you don't hurry up, I swear I'll eat your share of breakfast. :D"

A small smile crossed his lips. The usual idiots.

He opened the messaging app and quickly sent a text to his mother:

[Kairo]: "Good morning, Mom. I'm about to leave. Today's the big day!"

[Mom]: "Good morning, sweetheart! I left you something to eat on the table. I'm sure you'll do great! ❤️"

Then he texted his younger brother, Yuto:

[Kairo]: "Don't try anything sneaky and skip school, okay?"

[Yuto]: "Are you sure today is Monday? 🤔"

[Kairo]: "Yes, and it's also time for you to wake up."

[Yuto]: "Damn it."

Kairo chuckled to himself. His brother was always the same.

He got dressed quickly: dark jeans, a light hoodie, and a pair of sneakers. Before leaving, he paused for a moment in front of the mirror.

For the first time in days, he took a good look at himself.

Who was Kairo?

Twenty-four years old. A tall guy, lean but fit thanks to years of kendo training. Black, slightly unkempt hair, deep dark eyes—often looking a bit tired but always lighting up when he talked about something he was passionate about.

He wasn't the type to seek attention, but people noticed him for his calm demeanor. He never spoke unnecessarily, but when he did, he made himself heard.

And yet, that morning, something was different in his reflection.

He couldn't quite say what. But he had the feeling that something inside him was… out of place.

He shook his head. Maybe it was just nerves about the exam.

He slung his backpack over his shoulders, grabbed an energy bar from the table, and left.

---

Tokyo – 8:20 AM | Wasabe Station

The bustle of the city wrapped around him as soon as he stepped outside. Cars speeding by, voices overlapping, the scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries drifting from the cafés along the street.

He checked his phone. Aenna, Riven, and Lyra would be there any minute.

Leaning against one of the station's pillars, he watched the rushing crowd. How much would his life change if he passed the exam?

---

He got lost in thought until an unexpected chill ran down his spine.

A strange, cold sensation gripped the back of his neck, making the hairs on his arms stand on end. Instinctively, he turned toward the crowd.

A masked figure.

Standing still amidst the moving people, as if time didn't exist for him. Kairo couldn't make out the face, but he felt it. Those eyes were staring at him.

His heart pounded faster. He took a step forward, but a voice in the back of his mind screamed at him not to.

He blinked.

The figure was gone.

His breathing grew heavier. A cold sweat broke out on his skin. A knot tightened in his stomach, as if some part of him knew that hadn't been an illusion.

It was like seeing a ghost.

And in his head, the same question that had haunted him since he woke up echoed once more:

"Was it really just a dream?"